A cardiac MRI shows your cardiologist the structure of your heart muscle, the size and function of the heart chambers, and how effectively your heart is pumping. It can also show areas of scarring, inflammation or abnormal tissue that are difficult to assess on other tests. Your cardiologist uses these findings alongside your history and other results.

It is commonly requested to help assess:

The heart muscle (myocardium)

• Thickening, thinning or unusual texture of the muscle wall
• Cardiomyopathies, which are diseases affecting the heart muscle itself
• Areas of scar tissue, including scarring from a previous heart attack
• Whether heart muscle is still viable, meaning still capable of recovering function

Heart function and volumes

• How much blood the heart pumps with each beat, including the ejection fraction
• The size and pumping function of the left and right ventricles
• Wall motion, meaning how well each part of the muscle contracts

Inflammation and infiltration

• Suspected myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle
• Conditions where abnormal material builds up in the heart muscle, such as cardiac amyloidosis or sarcoidosis
• Pericarditis, which is inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart

Structure and anatomy

• Congenital heart conditions, meaning differences in the heart or major vessels present from birth
• Masses or tumours involving the heart or a great vessel
• Abnormalities of the thoracic aorta, the large artery leaving the heart

A scan does not diagnose a condition on its own. Your radiologist reports what the images show, and your cardiologist interprets that report in the context of your symptoms, your history and your other test results.
 

Not directly. A standard cardiac MRI is designed to assess the heart muscle and how the heart is working, rather than to look inside the coronary arteries for narrowing or blockage. If your doctor needs to see the coronary arteries themselves, they will usually request a different test, most often a CT coronary angiogram or a coronary angiogram procedure.

Where a cardiac MRI does contribute is in showing the consequences of reduced blood supply. It can show areas of scarring from a previous heart attack, including scarring that was not previously known about, and it can help assess whether heart muscle in an affected area is still viable. Some cardiac MRI protocols also assess blood flow to the heart muscle under stress, which can indicate that a coronary artery is significantly narrowed even though the artery is not being imaged directly.

Your cardiologist chooses the test that answers the specific clinical question they have. If you are unsure why a particular scan was requested, ask them - it is a reasonable question and they will be happy to explain.

If you are experiencing chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or symptoms you are worried about right now, do not wait for a scan. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
 

The MRI machine looks like a large tube with a short tunnel through the centre. You will be asked to lie down on a movable table that slides into the opening. An antenna, which receives image signals from your body, will be placed around the area being scanned, and this area is moved to the centre of the scanner for the duration of the scan. 

During the scan: 

1. You are monitored from our console room, and you can talk to your radiographer by microphone between scans. An emergency alarm is also available if you need assistance at any point. 
2. You will be given ear protection, as the machine generates a loud rhythmic array of sounds during your scan.
3. You will be asked to remain as still as possible for the duration of the scan. This allows your radiographer to capture images of the best possible quality. 
4. Because the heart is moving, you will also be asked to hold your breath for short periods while images are taken. Your radiographer will guide you through this. 
5. A cardiac MRI includes an injection of contrast, given through a small cannula, so some images can be taken after the contrast is given. 

The procedure is painless. Your radiographer will give you a full explanation of your procedure before it begins, so please feel free to ask questions if you have any concerns. 

Following your scan, your report and images are sent electronically to your doctor.
 

Plan for around two hours at the clinic. We’ll ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time to complete your safety questionnaire and have your cannula placed. The scan itself generally takes 60 to 80 minutes, and some protocols, such as detailed assessment of the right side of the heart or of the thoracic aorta, take longer.

Cardiac MRI takes longer than most other MRI scans for a reason. The scanner has to work around a beating heart and breathing lungs, so images are acquired in short bursts timed to your heartbeat and to breath-holds, and several different sequences are needed to answer the clinical question. Some sequences are also repeated after contrast is given.

Your Qscan clinic will confirm the expected duration for your specific scan when you book.
 

Cardiac MRI requires you to have nothing to eat or drink for two hours before your appointment time, and to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment. Our team will confirm the specific preparation requirements for your scan with you at the time of booking.

Before your appointment

• Have nothing to eat or drink for two hours before your appointment time
• Please let a staff member know if you have any electronic devices that use magnets, such as magnetic dentures, in or on your body
• If you have ever had an injury to your eyes involving metal, please inform our staff. You may need to have an x-ray of your eyes to make sure no residual metal fragments are present
• Please let a staff member know if you are claustrophobic
• Please let a staff member know if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• Please let a staff member know if you have ever had a reaction to MRI contrast, or if you have kidney disease or are on dialysis

On the day

• Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time
• Watches, keys, coins, mobile phones and jewellery cannot be taken into the MRI room, so it is best to leave valuables at home where you can
• Try to remove all jewellery and body piercings before your scan
• Refrain from wearing eye makeup, as metallic components in these products can interfere with your scan
• If you wear clothing with metal studs or clips, you may be asked to change into a gown for your own safety
• Allow around two hours in total

If you are unsure about your preparation instructions, please call your Qscan clinic before the day. Incorrect preparation is one of the most common reasons a scan needs to be rescheduled.
 

MRI does not use ionising radiation, which is one of its advantages, particularly for younger patients and for people who need repeated scans over time. However, MRI uses a very strong magnetic field that is always on, so anything implanted in or on your body must be checked before your scan.

Tell your Qscan clinic when you book if you have any of the following:

• A pacemaker, implantable defibrillator, loop recorder or any other cardiac device
• Coronary stents, heart valve replacements, or previous bypass surgery
• Aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, neurostimulators or an implanted pump
• Any metal fragments in your eyes, or a history of metalwork or shrapnel injury
• Joint replacements, plates, screws or other surgical implants
• A cannula, patch or medical device worn on the skin

Many modern cardiac devices and implants are designed to be scanned safely under specific conditions, but this depends on the exact make and model. Qscan maintains a device reference for this purpose. The team will ask for your implant card or device details so they can confirm suitability before your appointment. Please do not assume your scan cannot go ahead, and equally, please do not leave a device off your form.

You will also complete an MRI safety questionnaire and consent form before your scan, and a member of the team will go through it with you.
 

Your specialist selects the test that best answers the clinical question they have. These tests are often complementary rather than alternatives, and it is common to have more than one over the course of an investigation. The table below sets out how they differ.

Echocardiography is usually the first test a doctor turns to for assessing heart function, because it is quick, widely available and does not require contrast. Cardiac MRI is generally used when a more detailed look at the heart muscle is needed, or when the echocardiogram has not fully answered the question. 

Yes. Cardiac MRI is restricted to a specialist referral. 

Cardiac MRI is available at selected clinics across Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania, with a New South Wales site opening soon. Not every Qscan clinic offers cardiac MRI, because the scan requires specific scanner capability and dedicated appointment times. You can view the locations we offer cardiac MRI at below. 

Cardiac MRI appointments are scheduled in dedicated cardiac sessions, so availability varies by site. The scan you need may also be suited to a particular scanner, and our team will place you at the right clinic when you book.

To book, visit our bookings page. You can also find opening hours and directions for each clinic on our locations page. 
 

Most cardiac MRI scans include a contrast agent, given through a small cannula in your arm. Contrast helps show areas of scarring, inflammation or abnormal tissue that would otherwise be difficult to see. Some scans are performed without contrast. Your referral and the clinical question determine which applies, and the team will confirm this when you book.

Tell us when you book. A cardiac MRI requires you to lie still inside the scanner for an extended period, so it is worth raising early rather than on the day. The radiographer speaks with you throughout and can see you at all times, and you will have a call button. If you think you will need medication to help you relax, this must be arranged with your referring doctor in advance.

Tell the clinic if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. MRI does not use ionising radiation, and it may be used during pregnancy where it is clinically necessary, but contrast is generally avoided. Your referring doctor and the radiologist will decide together on the most appropriate approach for your situation.

A cardiac MRI is focused specifically on the heart and the great vessels, and is timed to your heartbeat. A chest MRI is a broader scan of the structures in the chest, which may include the mediastinum, chest wall or lungs, and is performed differently. Your referral will specify which scan has been requested.